First Team News

Hart and Aguero look for Norwich bounce back

Fri 28 Dec 2012, 9:36 AM

Aguero

They play at opposite ends of the pitch but Joe Hart and Sergio Aguero are telling the same story ahead of the trip to Norwich.

Both are determined that the Blues will bounce back in customary fashion following the 1-0 defeat at Sunderland that left the champions trailing by seven points in the title race and allowed the chasing pack to close.

Hart was his usual blunt self after Adam Johnson’s long range effort at the Stadium of Light ruined many a City Christmas.

“We weren’t lacking in effort at Sunderland,” he declared. “We gave it everything but couldn’t break through a defensive wall. No-one else needs to know what gets said in the dressing room, it’s down to us to put things right.

“We have dominated a lot of games but people play differently against us now as opposed to last season. We have to adjust to that and hopefully the second half of the season will be better for us.

It’s tough when you play good football and people defend against you, but that’s what it’s like at the top, it’s tough

...Joe Hart

For Aguero it was the first time in more than a dozen Premier League outings he had tasted defeat when starting a game alongside countryman Carlos Tevez and he is determined to begin another such sequence if they are paired at Carrow Road.

“I didn't know about that statistic,” he declared. “Those are good numbers, aren't they? I hope each time we play together we can keep that average. But it is not about Carlos and me.

“Beyond who is on the field, the important part is that we all work together for the same goal, because what we all want is to defend City's hard-earned title. For that we need everyone playing well and to start winning again straight away.

“Our game at Sunderland wasn’t great but we didn’t deserve to lose. We have to keep working to get ourselves back to our best form and keep our ambitions in sight.”

One thing is for sure, Aguero will not be blaming tiredness or the regularity of matches for any shortcomings.

“It's unusual to play so many matches in quick succession; in Spain there's a brief recess at this time. But, each country has its own traditions and it’s just a matter of getting used to it. There are no worries on that score,” he concluded.

As expected, Ivory Coast have called up Kolo Toure, Yaya Toure and Abdul Razak for the African Cup of Nations in South Africa which starts on 19 January and finishes on 10 February.